Tag: prospects

Which prospect did Red Sox trade to Athletics for Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson?

Following the conclusion of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft, the Red Sox swung a trade with the Athletics for a pitcher who had just heard his name called.

In exchange for right-hander Ryan Watson, whom the Athletics took from the Giants system with the eighth overall pick in the major league phase, the Red Sox sent infield/outfield prospect Justin Riemer and cash considerations to the A’s.

MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo was the first to report news of the trade.

Riemer, who turns 24 in February, was not ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. The Virginia native was originally selected by the Red Sox out of Wright State with the 133rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, which the club received as compensation for losing Nathan Eovaldi to the Rangers in free agency the previous winter. He received an above-slot $500,000 signing bonus but was recovering from a torn ACL at that time, which pushed his professional debut back until last July.

After splitting the remainder of the 2024 season between the Florida Complex League and High-A Greenville, Riemer spent the majority of 2025 with the latter affiliate. Though he was sidelined from April 16 to May 15 with a shoulder injury, the right-handed hitter batted .232/.423/.275 with six doubles, one home run, 16 RBIs, 33 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 64 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 76 games (279 plate appearances) for the Drive. He appeared in six games (August 23-24, September 10-14) across two separate stints with Double-A Portland as well, going 4-for-18 (.222) with one double, two RBIs, five runs scored, five walks, and five strikeouts.

Overall, Riemer slashed .231/.421/.276 with seven doubles, one home run, 18 RBIs, 38 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 69 walks, and 60 strikeouts in 82 total games (303 plate appearances) between Greenville and Portland this past season. Among 36 Red Sox minor leaguers who made at least 300 trips to the plate, Riemer ranked first in walk rate (22.8 percent), on-base percentage, and swinging-strike rate (3.2 percent), fourth in wRC+ (123), seventh in wOBA (.360), and ninth in strikeout rate (19.8 percent), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Riemer saw playing time at five different positions between his stops in Greenville and Portland this year. The versatile 5-foot-10, 170-pounder logged 309 innings at second base, 179 innings at third base, 108 innings in left field, 40 innings in right field, and 14 innings at shortstop, committing eight errors in 299 total defensive chances. He also made three starts at DH.

Though he has yet to hit for much power to this point in his career, Riemer has drawn praise for his advanced approach, pitch recognition, and bat-to-ball skills. Those traits, among others, must have stood out to the Athletics when putting together this one-for-one swap with the Red Sox.

With that being said, Riemer — barring another move — seems likely to open the 2026 season with either the Athletics’ High-A or Double-A affiliate. It is worth noting that he is in line to become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time next winter.

(Picture of Justin Riemer: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Which prospect did Red Sox acquire from Angels for Vaughn Grissom?

The Red Sox parted ways with infielder Vaughn Grissom on Tuesday by sending him to the Angels in a minor trade.

In exchange for Grissom, Boston simultaneously opened a 40-man roster spot ahead of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft and acquired outfield prospect Isaiah Jackson from Los Angeles.

Jackson, 21, was originally taken by the Astros in the 18th round of the 2022 draft out of Cienega High School in Arizona. Rather than enter the professional ranks at that time, though, the Vail, Ariz. native elected to honor his commitment to Arizona State. He played three seasons with the Sun Devils and batted .310/.402/.630 with 11 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 68 RBIs, 51 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 28 walks, and 43 strikeouts in 60 games (251 plate appearances) as a junior this past spring en route to earning All-Big 12 First Team honors.

Coming off a standout junior season, Jackson was ranked as Baseball America’s No. 179 prospect in the 2025 draft class. This time around, the left-handed hitter was selected by the Angels in the eighth round (229th overall) of July’s draft and signed for an over-slot $297,500. He made his professional debut with Los Angeles’ High-A affiliate in early August and appeared in 10 games for the Tri-City Dust Devils, going 7-for-32 (.219) with one double, one home run, four RBIs, six runs scored, four walks, and 13 strikeouts. Defensively, he made nine starts in center field and did not commit an error in 81 innings there.

Before Tuesday’s trade, Jackson was slated to enter 2026 as Baseball America’s No. 25 Angels prospect. The publication notes that the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is “a well-built left-handed-hitting center fielder who is a plus defender despite only average speed,” adding that “he has the bat speed to have solid power with a swing geared especially toward pullside damage, but there are some questions about how well he will hit against more advanced pitching, especially against breaking balls.”

Jackson, who turns 22 in May, becomes the latest 2025 draftee to be added by the Red Sox via trade in recent weeks, joining the likes of Luke Heyman (acquired from the Mariners) and Adonys Guzman (acquired from the Pirates). Barring another move, he appears likely to start the 2026 campaign at High-A Greenville.

(Picture of Isaiah Jackson: Kate Woolson/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)

Which prospects did Red Sox acquire from Pirates in Johan Oviedo trade?

In addition to right-hander Johan Oviedo, the Red Sox acquired pitching prospect Tyler Samaniego and catching prospect Adonys Guzman as part of their five-player trade with the Pirates on Thursday night.

Samaniego, who turns 27 next month, was originally selected by the Pirates in the 15th round (433rd overall) of the 2021 draft out of South Alabama. The left-hander received a $75,000 signing bonus and has since logged a 3.82 ERA with 182 strikeouts to 63 walks in 127 career minor league outings (two starts) totaling 158 innings.

Even though he has yet to pitch above the Double-A level, Samaniego was added to the Pirates’ 40-man roster last month to receive protection from next week’s Rule 5 Draft. The Red Sox opened a spot for Samaniego on their own 40-man roster by designating righty Cooper Criswell for assignment.

After ending 2024 on the 60-day injured list due to an elbow injury that required an internal brace, Samaniego did not make his 2025 season debut until May. He rehabbed with Pittsburgh’s Florida Complex League, Low-A, and High-A affiliates before rejoining Double-A Altoona in late June. From there, he posted a 3.08 ERA with 30 strikeouts to six walks in 20 relief appearances (26 1/3 innings) for the Curve. Opposing Eastern League hitters batted just .189 against him.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Samaniego operates with a mid-90s fastball that reached 97 mph in 2025, a low-to-mid-80s slider, and a “seldom-used” upper-80s changeup, according to Baseball America. He should provide the Red Sox with some much-needed left-handed relief depth after Brennan Bernardino (Rockies) and Chris Murphy (White Sox) were traded away last month.

Guzman, meanwhile, celebrated his 22nd birthday on Thursday. The Bronx, N.Y., native originally attended Boston College out of high school in 2023 before transferring to Arizona for his sophomore and junior seasons. He was selected by the Pirates in the fifth round (144th overall) of July’s draft after batting .328/.411/.496 with 12 doubles, nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 43 runs scored, 27 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 62 games (271 plate appearances) for the Wildcats this past spring.

Guzman was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 314 prospect in the 2025 draft class and signed with the Pirates for $496,500. The right-handed hitter made his professional debut in Low-A Bradenton’s penultimate game of the season and stood out by going 2-for-5 with one home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. He also threw out one would-be base stealer.

Per his pre-draft Baseball America scouting report, Guzman, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 221 pounds, “remains a glove-first catcher whose swing is often a bit stiff and pull-oriented, though he does have solid pullside power and the plate discipline you might expect of a catcher. His arm remains one of the best in class three years later, with excellent carry on his throws that should help control the running game.” 

Guzman is the third minor league catcher the Red Sox have acquired in the last three weeks, joining Ronny Hernandez (White Sox) and fellow 2025 draftee Luke Heyman (Mariners). He is a candidate to open the 2026 season at either Low-A Salem or High-A Greenville.

(Picture of Adonys Guzman: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Which prospects did Red Sox trade to Pirates for Johan Oviedo?

To acquire right-hander Johan Oviedo (and two others) from the Pirates on Thursday night, the Red Sox traded outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and pitching prospect Jesus Travieso to Pittsburgh.

Garcia, who turns 23 next week, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 6 prospect. Otherwise known as “The Password,” the native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $350,000 as an international free agent in July 2019 and was added to the club’s 40-man roster last November following a breakout 2024 campaign.

This past season, Garcia represented the Red Sox at the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta and was called up for his major league debut in late August. The right-handed hitting slugger did not get much of a chance to put his power on display, as he went just 1-for-7 (.143) with one double, two walks, and five strikeouts in a brief five-game cameo before being sent back down on August 29. He made two starts in right field and one start in left field.

Between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, however, Garcia batted .267/.340/.470 with 17 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 75 RBIs, 79 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 45 walks, and 131 strikeouts over 114 games (434 plate appearances) in 2025. He led the organization in homers for a second straight season to earn Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Though he is brimming with potential on both sides of the ball, Garcia did not have a clear path to playing time with the Red Sox, as he was behind the likes of Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela on the club’s outfield depth chart. Barring another move, he should have more of an opportunity with the Pirates in 2026 and will presumably compete for a spot on Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster when spring training begins.

Like Garcia, Travieso also hails from Venezuela. The 18-year-old right-hander was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 16 prospect and originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent last January. He made his stateside debut this past season after spending all of 2024 in the Dominican Summer League.

In 19 total outings (16 starts) between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, Travieso posted a 3.06 ERA with 90 strikeouts to 36 walks over 64 2/3 innings in which opponents batted .236 against him. Undersized at 5-foot-11, Travieso is equipped with a live arm and features a 94-96 mph fastball that can reach 100 mph, an 84-86 mph slider, and a changeup.

Travieso, who turns 19 in March, has starter upside but may be better suited for a relief role in the long run, given his frame and below-average command. Regardless, he seems likely to open the 2026 season with either Pittsburgh’s Low-A or High-A affiliate.

(Picture of Jhostynxon Garcia: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox acquire catching prospect, 2025 14th-round pick Luke Heyman in trade with Mariners

As part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired three minor leaguers in three separate trades with the White Sox, Rockies, and Mariners.

This article will focus on Boston acquiring catching prospect Luke Heyman from Seattle for minor league right-hander Alex Hoppe, who was eligible for next month’s Rule 5 Draft but has since been added to the Mariners’ 40-man roster to nullify that.

Heyman, 22, was selected by the Mariners in the 14th round (422nd overall) of the 2025 draft out of the University of Florida. The Altamonte Springs, Fla. native received an over-slot $230,000 signing bonus but did not appear in a game for one of Seattle’s affiliates due to a fractured forearm that prematurely ended his junior season in May.

Before the injury, Heyman batted .301/.397/.578 with seven doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, 37 runs scored, 22 walks, and 38 strikeouts over 49 games (204 plate appearances) for the Gators this past spring en route to earning All-SEC First Team honors. The right-handed hitter was ranked as Baseball America’s No. 127 draft-eligible prospect before dropping to the 14th round in July.

“Heyman offers plus raw power and improving swing decisions,” his pre-draft Baseball America scouting report reads. “He generates carry and lift to the pull side, even on pitches thrown in the outer half of the zone. While Heyman struggled somewhat with offspeed pitches, particularly changeups, he crushed velocity, a byproduct of solid bat speed and rhythm. He stays balanced through his swing and can punish mistakes over the plate.”

On the other side of the ball, Heyman saw the vast majority of his playing time this season come at catcher. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder made 45 starts behind the plate for the Gators and allowed just three passed balls while throwing out 11 of 45 possible base stealers. He also has prior experience at first base.

“Heyman is a well-below-average athlete, which shows up in his limited range of motion, choppy running stride, and heavy lower half,” his scouting report continues. “Scouts believe he has a chance to stick behind the plate thanks to above-average arm strength and improved receiving and blocking. He presented pitches more cleanly than in years past and showed a feel for handling a staff.”

Heyman, who does not turn 23 until next July, is a candidate to make his professional debut with Low-A Salem to start the 2026 season, though he could be a fast riser through Boston’s farm system. Like fellow trade addition Ronny Hernandez, Heyman provides the Red Sox with some much-needed catching depth.

(Picture of Luke Heyman: Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Which prospect did Red Sox acquire from White Sox for Chris Murphy?

As part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired three minor leaguers in three separate trades with the White Sox, Rockies, and Mariners.

This article will focus on Boston acquiring catching prospect Ronny Hernandez from Chicago for left-hander Chris Murphy.

Hernandez, who turned 21 earlier this month, spent the first four seasons of his professional career in the White Sox organization after originally signing with the club as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in June 2022. The Turmero native made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter, then followed that up by earning Arizona Complex League All-Star honors in 2023.

After impressing in rookie ball, Hernandez made the jump to Low-A Kannapolis in 2024 and repeated the level in 2025. In 82 games for the Cannon Ballers this season, the left-handed hitter batted .251/.344/.366 with 12 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored, four stolen bases, 45 walks, and 75 strikeouts over 355 plate appearances. That includes a .161/.242/.196 line against lefties and a .271/.365/.467 line against righties.

On the other side of the ball, Hernandez made a team-high 64 starts at catcher for Kannapolis this year. In the process of logging 550 innings behind the plate, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound backstop committed 10 errors and allowed four passed balls while throwing out 37 of 152 possible base stealers. He also made 18 starts at DH.

Hernandez was not ranked among the White Sox’ top 30 prospects by publications such as Baseball America or MLB Pipeline, but should nonetheless provide the Red Sox with much-needed catching depth in the lower minors. He is a candidate to open the 2026 campaign with High-A Greenville and can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time at season’s end.

(Picture of Chris Murphy: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox prospects Luis Perales, Stanley Tucker named 2025 Fall Stars

Red Sox prospects Luis Perales and Stanley Tucker have been selected to the 2025 Fall Stars Game, the Arizona Fall League announced on Thursday.

Perales, a 22-year-old right-hander, and Tucker, a 23-year-old infielder/outfielder, will represent the Salt River Rafters by suiting up for the American League in the 19th annual Fall Stars Game at Mesa’s Sloan Park on Sunday night. The game, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, will be broadcast live on MLB Network and MLB.com.

Perales, one of Boston’s top pitching prospects and a member of the club’s 40-man roster, is still in the process of working his way back from June 2024 Tommy John surgery. After a lengthy rehab, the Venezuelan-born righty returned to the mound in September, appearing in two games (one start) for Double-A Portland and one game for Triple-A Worcester before the minor-league season concluded.

So far this fall, Perales has mostly struggled in the hitter-friendly AFL. Through five starts for Salt River, the 6-foot-1 hurler has posted a 9.58 ERA with 16 strikeouts to 10 walks over 10 1/3 innings in which opponents have batted .326 against him. Stuff-wise, he has reached triple digits with his fastball while also mixing in a cutter, slider, and changeup.

As he is slated to make his sixth start for Salt River on Friday, Perales will not pitch in Sunday’s Fall Stars Game. With that being said, he will nonetheless be an intriguing name to watch from within the Red Sox organization for various reasons heading into 2026.

Tucker, meanwhile, is not ranked among Boston’s top prospects but is also working his way back from injury following a lost 2025. After suffering a torn labrum from dislocating his shoulder last August that required surgery, the former 2023 19th-round draft selection out of Texas A&M crashed into the outfield wall in his first spring training game in March, dislocating a bone in his right wrist. He then spent all season on Low-A Salem’s 60-day injured list.

Now healthy, Tucker has had a solid fall thus far. Coming into play on Thursday, the right-handed hitter has batted .288/.397/.333 with three doubles, 14 RBIs, 10 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, 12 walks, and 19 strikeouts through 20 games (78 plate appearances) for Salt River. His 12 base thefts are good for the fourth-most in the AFL.

Defensively, Tucker has seen all of his playing time this fall come at second base. The 5-foot-9, 165-pounder has logged a team-leading 162 1/3 innings at the keystone for Salt River, committing seven errors in 94 chances. He also has prior professional experience at third base and all three outfield positions.

Beyond Perales and Tucker, former Red Sox farmhand Miguel Ugueto (taken by the Cardinals in the minor league phase of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft) was named a National League Fall Star on Thursday. Additionally, Braden Montgomery, one of four prospects traded to the White Sox for ace Garrett Crochet last December, is a finalist via the ‘Final 2’ fan vote for the last spot on the American League’s Fall Stars roster. Whether he makes it or not will be determined on Friday.

 (Picture of Luis Perales: Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

How did Red Sox infield prospect Starlyn Nunez fare in 2025?

Red Sox prospect Starlyn Nunez led the organization in triples this season. This article will examine how the recently-turned 20-year-old infielder fared in 2025 overall.

Nunez spent all of 2025 at Low-A Salem and got his first taste of full-season ball in doing so. The young switch-hitter initially got off to a slow start in the pitcher-friendly Carolina League and struggled to produce consistent results through much of the first half. Heading into the MLB All-Star break in mid-July, he had batted just .238/.298/.363 with 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 35 RBIs, 32 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 17 walks, and 48 strikeouts in his first 70 games (282 plate appearances) of the year.

After starting to show some signs of life before the break, Nunez picked up where he left off once the second half began on July 18. For the better part of the next month, Nunez proved to be a stabilzing force in Salem’s lineup, slashing .326/.371/.584 with eight doubles, three triples, three home runs, 11 RBIs, 15 runs scored, three stolen bases, seven walks, and 23 strikeouts in 24 games (97 plate appearances) through August 17.

As late August turned into September, though, Nunez seemingly ran out of gas and ended the year in a 11-for-65 (.183) rut. He did, however, fittingly triple and drive in one run as part of a 2-for-4 day in Salem’s regular-season finale against Fayetteville on September 7.

Altogether, Nunez slashed .249/.306/.407 (100 wRC+) with 24 doubles, an organizational-leading eight triples, eight home runs, 52 RBIs, 54 runs scored, a team-leading 21 stolen bases, 27 walks, and 91 strikeouts in 110 games (444 plate appearances) as a 19-year-old for Salem this season. That includes a .221/.303/.407 line from the right side of the plate and a .257/.307/.408 line from the left side.

Among 47 qualified hitters in the Carolina League this year, Nunez notably ranked fourth in isolated power (.158), fifth in slugging percentage, seventh in speed score (7.9), 14th in line-drive rate (24.6 percent), 18th in batting average, OPS (.713), and strikeout rate (20.5 percent), 22nd in wOBA (.343), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Nunez saw playing time at every infield position besides first base for Salem this season. The 6-foot, 155-pounder logged a team-leading 583 1/3 innings at shortstop, 168 1/3 innings at third base, and 130 1/3 innings at second base, committing 31 errors in 394 total chances. He also made two starts at DH.

Nunez, who celebrated his 20th birthday earlier this month, originally signed with the Red Sox for $52,500 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in January 2023. The San Pedro de Macoris native earned Dominican Summer League All-Star honors in his professional debut before a non-injury issue limited him to 35 games in the Florida Complex League last season.

As things stand, Nunez is unranked by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline but is considered the No. 37 and No. 39 prospect in Boston’s farm system by SoxProspects.com and FanGraphs, respectively. If he remains in the organization through the winter and into the spring, Nunez is projected by SoxProspects.com to make the jump to High-A Greenville in 2026.

(Picture of Starlyn Nunez: Gary Streiffer/Flickr)

After standout spring, how did Red Sox OF prospect Enddy Azocar fare in 2025?

Red Sox prospect Enddy Azocar made great strides in 2025. This article will examine how the 18-year-old outfielder fared in his first season stateside.

Originally signed by the Red Sox for just $40,000 as an international free agent out of Venezuela in January 2024, Azocar entered 2025 with very little fanfare after batting .266/.397/.309 in 31 Dominican Summer League games (116 plate appearances) last year to mark his professional debut. As part of his first spring training in Fort Myers, however, the Puerto La Cruz native impressed many and played in the first-ever “Futures at Fenway South” prospect showcase at JetBlue Park on March 14.

“Enddy has had a great spring so far and has caught some attention,” Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero said of Azocar shortly thereafter. “His frame will allow for plenty of strength, and he’s already 6-foot-2 at 18 years old. He did a great job in the offseason of getting stronger, and he’s only starting to fill that frame out. So far this spring, we’re seeing a lot of hard contact with multiple [100-plus mph exit velocities]. It will be very interesting to see him develop this year.”

Indeed, Azocar’s development this year was very interesting. Out of the chute, the young right-handed hitter slashed .385/.448/.558 with seven doubles, one triple, five RBIs, six runs scored, four stolen bases, six walks, and 11 strikeouts in 14 games (58 plate appearances) for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox. He leveraged that strong early performance into a promotion to Low-A Salem in late May.

Upon making the jump from the FCL to the pitcher-friendly Carolina League, Azocar had a rough time of things for the most part. In 71 games for Salem, he batted .202/.273/.314 with nine doubles, one triple, six home runs, 26 RBIs, 34 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 21 walks, and 67 strikeouts over 287 plate appearances. At the very least, he ended the season on an encouraging note by going 12-for-36 (.333) in his final nine games.

Between the FCL and Salem, Azocar finished the 2025 campaign having hit .232/.302/.355 with 16 doubles, two triples, his first six professional homers, 31 RBIs, 40 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, 27 walks, and 78 strikeouts over 85 total games (345 plate appearances). That includes a .228/.284/.325 line against righties and a far more favorable .254/.373/.476 line against lefties.

Though the surface-level numbers may not be too appealing, Azocar did manage to stand out with his exit velocity gains this year. As Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes highlighted on Thursday, Azocar raised his 90th percentile exit velocity from 98 mph in 2024 to 105.4 mph in 2025. The 7.4 percent increase represents the largest of any minor league hitter with at least 80 batted-ball events in each of the last two seasons.

“While Azocar struggled with the move to Salem — a notoriously difficult run environment — he still managed to raise his isolated slugging threefold between his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2024 and his 71-game sample in Low-A this year,” Pontes wrote. “A 7-plus mph EV gain in one season for any hitter is impressive, and Azocar’s small sample in the Florida Complex League hints at the validity of those gains when facing age-appropriate competition.” 

On the other side of the ball, Azocar saw playing time at all three outfield spots between his stops in the FCL and Salem this season. Altogether, the projectable 6-foot-2, 170-pounder logged 530 2/3 innings in center, 85 1/3 innings in right, and 14 innings in left, committing four errors and recording seven outfield assists in 160 total defensive chances. He also made nine starts at DH.

Azocar, who turns 19 in February, is currently ranked as Boston’s No. 23 prospect by Baseball America, No. 27 by SoxProspects.com, and No. 29 by MLB Pipeline. Barring a trade or other surprise move this winter, Azocar is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Salem for the start of the 2026 season.

(Picture of Enddy Azocar: Bryan Green/Flickr)

How did Red Sox OF prospect, Double-A Portland MVP Allan Castro fare in 2025?

Last month, Red Sox prospect Allan Castro was recognized as Double-A Portland’s 2025 Most Valuable Player. This article will examine how the 22-year-old outfielder fared with the Sea Dogs this season.

Castro broke camp with Portland in early April but suffered a left hamstring strain on Opening Day and was sidelined for the next month-plus as a result. He returned to action on May 7 and emerged as a stabilizing force in the Sea Dogs lineup during the season’s first half.

Leading up to the MLB All-Star break in mid-July, Castro batted .286/.373/.454 with eight doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 26 RBIs, 23 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 25 walks, and 44 strikeouts in his first 52 games (212 plate appearances) of the year. Upon returning from the break, however, the switch-hitter slashed an underwhelming .245/.330/.365 with 12 doubles, one triple, no home runs, 11 RBIs, 20 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 19 walks, and 35 strikeouts in his next 40 games (176 plate appearances) through September 7. He was placed on the injured list with an undisclosed injury four days later and ended the season there.

Altogether, Castro batted .268/.353/.400 with a team-leading 20 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 37 RBIs, 43 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, 44 walks, and 79 strikeouts over 92 total games (388 plate appearances) for Portland in 2025. That includes a .217/.316/.265 line from the right side of the plate and a far more favorable .284/.365/.444 line from the left side.

Among 48 qualified hitters in the Eastern League this season, Castro ranked ninth in batting average, 10th in line-drive rate (26.5 percent), 11th in on-base percentage, 13th in OPS (.753), wOBA (.350), and wRC+ (119), 14th in slugging percentage and strikeout rate (20.4 percent), 15th in walk rate (11.3 percent), and 18th in swinging-strike rate (10.3 percent), per FanGraphs.

Defensively, Castro saw playing time at all three outfield spots for the Sea Dogs this year. The 6-foot-2, 206-pounder logged a team-leading 556 1/3 innings in center, 123 innings in right, and 12 innings in left, committing four errors and recording 10 assists in 188 total chances. He also made 13 starts at DH.

Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Castro originally signed with Boston for $100,000 as an international free agent in July 2019. An infielder at the time, the Santo Domingo native ultimately transitioned to the outfield and earned Red Sox 2021 Latin Program Position Player of the Year honors in his professional debut. He has gradually worked his way up the organizational ladder since then and has often been identified as a potential sleeper prospect.

Castro, who does not turn 23 until next May, is currently regarded by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 20 prospect. Similarly, MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the Red Sox’ No. 22 prospect, while SoxProspects.com has him at No. 26. He can become eligible for this winter’s Rule 5 Draft if not added to the club’s 40-man roster in November, but is otherwise projected to make the jump to Triple-A Worcester in 2026 if he remains in the organization.

(Picture of Allan Castro: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)